The Non-GMO Project

December 15, 2009

Regrettably, there is a long-standing practice of "Don't ask. Don't tell." in the natural products industry regarding genetically engineered derived food and ingredients. Most commonly, inquiries are deflected by simply saying that GMOs are
"not allowed in the USDA organic program" even though no one is testing or doing anything to avoid them.

Eden, however, is and has been doing everything necessary to avoid them since 1993.

Recently, the Non-GMO Project (The Project) was created by industry members from all of its sectors in the USA and Canada. Eden Foods being one. The Project provides consumers and makers a 3rd party non-GMO verification program through all levels of the supply chain, thus providing verified non-GMO alternatives to the consumer. Eden Foods is enthusiastic in support of The Project and has great hope that it will become a much-needed filter that knowledgeable people require.

Eden Foods, its president Michael Potter, is one of eleven governing members of the Non-GMO Project's board of directors that has been involved in initiating, funding, and writing standards for the Non-GMO Project, a non-profit organization to develop and verify consistent standards for food produced without genetic engineering or recombinant DNA technologies. The Non-GMO Project is North America's first independent non-GMO verification utilizing on-site facility audits, document and systems reviews, and DNA PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing of all inputs at risk for GMO contamination.

The Project aims to continuously improve elimination of GMO contamination along the supply chain by encouraging suppliers of Non-GMO seed, to offering information concerning companies that have enrolled their food in the Non-GMO Product Verification Program.

As of today Eden enrolled 183 foods that have all been verified as compliant with the Non-GMO Project Standard, 116 foods in the U.S. and 67 in Canada.